Footwear with resilient heel

ABSTRACT

An article of footwear includes a lower sole portion which has at least a lower heel region, and an upper sole portion which includes a front end connected to the lower sole portion and a remaining part extending rearwardly from the front end above the lower sole portion. The remaining part includes an upper heel region which is spaced apart from and extends above the lower heel region. The upper sole portion is formed integrally as one piece with the lower sole portion and is resilient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to footwear, more particularly to improvedfootwear having a resilient heel.

2. Description of the Related Art

High-heeled shoes or sandals typically include a sole plate made ofrubber or plastic, and a solid heel block attached to the bottom of aheel part of the sole plate. While the solid heel block can raise theheel part, because the solid heel block is not resilient and can producea certain weight, the conventional high heel shoe or sandal is generallyuncomfortable. In addition, the shapes and configurations of theconventional high heel shoes or sandals are limited by the constructionof the solid heel blocks attached to the heel parts thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide improved footwear witha novel heel which is not only durable but also resilient andcomfortable.

According to this invention, an article of footwear comprises a soleunit that includes a lower sole portion having at least a lower heelregion; and an upper sole portion which includes a front end connectedto the lower sole portion, and a remaining part extending rearwardlyfrom the front end above the lower sole portion. The remaining partincludes an upper heel region which is spaced apart from and extendsabove the lower heel region. The upper sole portion is formed integrallyas one piece with the lower sole portion and is resilient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of thefootwear according to the present invention:

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of thefootwear according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the third preferred embodiment of thefootwear according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the fourth preferred embodiment of thefootwear according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the fifth preferred embodiment of thefootwear according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the sixth preferred embodiment of thefootwear according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote likeelements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment of the footwearaccording the present invention is configured as a high-heeled sandal100 which includes a sole unit 10 and a strap 20 attached to the soleunit 10.

The sole unit 10 includes a lower sole portion 12 having a lower frontregion 121 and a lower heel region 122, and an upper sole portion 11which is formed integrally as one piece with the lower sole portion 12.The lower sole portion 12 is planar. The upper sole portion 11 has afront end 111 connected to the lower sole portion 12 at a locationbetween the lower front and heel regions 121 and 122. The remaining partof the upper sole portion 11 extends rearwardly from the front end 111above the lower heel region 122 and includes an upper heel region 112which is spaced apart from and extends above the lower heel region 122.The upper sole portion 11 thus acts as a cantilever. The strap 20 isconnected to the lower front region 121 of the lower sole portion 12.

The upper and lower sole portions 11 and 12 are made of a compositematerial which includes a fiber component, and a resin component, suchas a thermoplastic resin, or a thermosetting resin. The fiber componentmay include one or more fibers selected from carbon fiber, glass fiberand Kevlar fiber. In a preferred embodiment, the composite materialincludes 60%-80% by weight of the fiber component and 20%-40% by weightof the resin component.

The high-heeled sandallo o further includes ananti-slip layer 13attached to the top surfaces of the upper sole portion 11 and the lowerfront region 121 of the lower sole portion 12. Tread members 14 areattached to the bottom surface of the lower sole portion 12.

Due to the use of the aforesaid composite material, the high-heeledsandal 100 not only has a light weight but also is strong and durablefor resistance against breakage. In addition, because of thecantilever-like configuration of the upper sole portion 11, the soleunit 10 has a measure of resiliency so that the sole unit 10 is able toabsorb shock and provides a feel of comfort. Moreover, the sole unit 10presents a novel outer appearance different from those of the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 2, a second preferred embodiment of the footwearaccording to the present invention which is substantially similar to thefirst preferred embodiment except that a connecting plate 15 isadditionally provided in the second preferred embodiment. The connectingplate 15 has top and bottom ends connected respectively to the rear endsof the upper and lower heel regions 112 and 122. The connecting plate 15is bent inward so that it protrudes into a space between the upper andlower heel regions 112 and 122. Thus, the connecting plate 15 can beflexed when the upper and lower heel regions 112 and 122 are subjectedto external pressure. The connecting plate 15 reinforces the upper andlower heel regions 112 and 122 so as to provide improved durability andresistance against breakage.

Referring to FIG. 3, a third preferred embodiment of the footwearaccording to the present invention includes a strap 20 and a sole unit10A. The sole unit 10A includes a lower sole portion 12A and an uppersole portion 11. The lower sole portion 12A is arched upward at anintermediate part 123A between a lower front region 121A and a lowerheel portion 122A. The front end of the upper sole portion 11 isconnected to the lower sole portion 12A at the arched intermediate part123A. The arched intermediate part 123A provides an advantage in that,when the wearer who wears the sandal of this embodiment steps ongravels, debris or the like, the arched intermediate part 123A canprevent the middle part of the wearer's foot from being pressed orpained by gravels or debris.

Referring to FIG. 4, a fourth preferred embodiment of the footwearaccording to the present invention is substantially similar to the firstpreferred embodiment except that the lower heel region 122 of the lowersole portion 12 additionally has an upward support plate 124 whichextends curvedly and upwardly from the rear end of the lower heel region122 and thereafter turns inward. An anti-abrasion pad 113 is made of anabrasion-resistant material and is attached to the bottom side of theupper heel region 112 of the upper sole portion 11. When the upper heelregion 112 is moved downward due to the pressure exerted by the wearer'sfoot, a top free end of the upward support plate 124 will contact theanti-abrasion pad 113, thereby preventing the upward support plate 124from abrading the upper heel region 112.

Referring to FIG. 5, a fifth preferred embodiment of the footwearaccording to the present invention is substantially similar to the firstpreferred embodiment except that the upper heel region 112 of the uppersole portion 11 has a downward support plate 114 which extends curvedlyand downwardly from the rear end of the upper heel region 112 to aposition proximate to the rear end of the lower heel region 122 of thelower sole portion 12. A stop piece 125 projects from the lower heelregion 122 adjacent to a bottom free end of the downward support plate114. As such, when the upper heel region 112 is moved downward due tothe pressure exerted on the upper heel region 112, the bottom free endof the downward support plate 114 contacts against the lower heel region122 so that the upper heel region 112 is supported by the downwardsupport plate 114. The stop piece 125 serves to prevent the downwardsupport plate 114 from bending excessively and to maintain the downwardsupport plate 114 in a proper position.

Referring to FIG. 6, a sixth preferred embodiment of the footwearaccording to the present invention includes upper and lower soleportions 11B and 12B. The lower sole portion 12B is planar and includesa lower front region 121B and a lower heel region 122B. The upper soleportion 11 includes an upper front region 111B and an upper heel region112B. The front end of the upper front region 111B is connected to afront end of the lower front region 121B. The upper front region 111B isspaced apart from the lower front region 121B substantially in parallelto the lower front region 121B. The upper heel region 112B is inclinedwith respect to the lower heel region 122B. The upper and lower soleportions 11B and 12B form a U-shaped turn at the juncture of the frontends of the upper and lower front regions 1113 and 121B. A connectionplate 15 interconnects the rear ends of the upper and lower heel regions112B and 122B.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations andequivalent arrangements.

1. An article of footwear comprising a sole unit which includes: a lowersole portion having at least a lower heel region; and an upper soleportion including a front end connected to said lower sole portion, anda remaining part extending rearwardly from said front end above saidlower sole portion, said remaining part including an upper heel regionwhich is spaced apart from and extends above said lower heel region,said upper sole portion being formed integrally as one piece with saidlower sole portion and being resilient.
 2. The article of footwear asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said lower sole portion further includes alower front region connected to said lower heel region, said front endof said upper sole portion being connected to said lower sole portionbetween said lower front and heel regions, said upper heel region beinginclined with respect to said lower heel region.
 3. The article offootwear as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a strap connected tosaid lower front region.
 4. The article of footwear as claimed in claim1, wherein said lower and upper sole portions are made of a compositematerial which includes a fiber component and a resin component.
 5. Thearticle of footwear as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a treadmember attached to a bottom side of said lower sole portion.
 6. Thearticle of footwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sole unitfurther includes a connecting plate which has top and bottom endsconnected respectively to rear ends of said upper and lower heelregions, said connecting plate being bent to protrude into a spaceformed between said upper and lower heel regions.
 7. The article offootwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lower sole portion isplanar.
 8. The article of footwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidlower sole portion is arched upward between said lower front and heelregions.
 9. The article of footwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidsole unit further includes an upward support plate which extendscurvedly and upwardly from a rear end of said lower heel region and hasa top free end.
 10. The article of footwear as claimed in claim 2,wherein said sole unit further includes a downward support plate whichextends curvedly and downwardly from a rear end of said upper heelregion and has a bottom free end.
 11. The article of footwear as claimedin claim 10, wherein said sole unit further includes a stop pieceprojecting upward from said lower heel region adjacent to said bottomfree end.
 12. The article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid lower sole portion further includes a lower front region which hasa front end, said upper sole portion further having an upper frontregion above said lower front region, said front end of said upper soleportion being connected to said front end of said lower front region.13. The article of footwear as claimed in claim 12, wherein said upperfront region is spaced apart from said lower front region substantiallyin parallel with said lower front region, said upper heel region beinginclined with respect to said lower heel region.
 14. The article offootwear as claimed in claim 13, wherein said upper and lower soleportions form a U-shaped turn at the juncture of said upper and lowerfront regions.